House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi: "This decision is a victory for the American people. With this ruling, Americans will benefit from critical patient protections, lower costs for the middle class, more coverage for families, and greater accountability for the insurance industry.

[...]

"In passing health reform, we made history for our nation and progress for the American people. We completed the unfinished business of our society and strengthened the character of our country. We ensured health care would be a right for all, not a privilege for the few.

"Today, the Supreme Court affirmed our progress and protected that right, securing a future of health and economic security for the middle class and for every American."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: "I'm happy, I'm pleased to see the Supreme Court put the rule of law ahead of partisanship and ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional.

"No longer will Americans live in fear of losing their health insurance because they lose a job. No longer will tens of millions of Americans rely on emergency room care or go without care entirely because they have no insurance at all. Soon, virtually every man, woman and child in America will have access to health insurance they can afford and the vital care they need.

"Passing the Affordable Care Act was the greatest single step in generations towards ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare for every person in America, regardless of where they live or how much money they make."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "You know, I haven't had the chance to read the decision. I literally just heard as we landed that the Supreme Court has upheld the health care law. Obviously I want to get into the details, but I'm very pleased. That's how I hoped it would turn out. I think its a great moment to just think about what this will mean for the millions and millions of Americans who have already benefited from the Affordable Care Act and so many more who will continue to do so. There will be a lot of work to do to get it implemented and understand what the opinion says, but obviously I was quite excited to hear the results."

MoveOn, a Democratic group: "Today, justice was upheld. But the fact that the Affordable Care Act was ever in jeopardy shows how politicized this court has become. All too often, this 1% Court has legislated from the bench on behalf of corporations and the wealthy instead of acting as fair arbiters of the law.

The next president will nominate as many as three new justices, setting the court's direction for a generation. There's every reason to believe Mitt Romney would try to put more 1% justices on the court. MoveOn will dedicate our energy and resources to reelecting President Obama to ensure more fair-minded justices are seated on the court."

U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Kaine of Virginia:
"The Affordable Care Act is an important first step in curbing discriminatory insurance company practices and increasing access to health care, but more needs to be done to bring down costs. Our government, businesses, and citizens cannot continue to spend more than any other nation on health care while getting second-rate results. As Senator, I am committed to working with all stakeholders to find additional improvements to the Affordable Care Act that give all Americans affordable access to high quality services.

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, (D-Mich.): "Today is a historic day. The Affordable Care Act can now takes its rightful place among this nation's other critical efforts to ensure that the basic human needs of all Americans are met. Just as our Social Security and Medicaid systems provide a critical safety net to older Americans, the Affordable Care Act will help make health care more affordable and accessible for all.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson: "The Supreme Court decision today is a great victory for children with pre-existing conditions, for women who have been unfairly discriminated against, and the start to providing a solid groundwork for ensuring that all Americans can get the care they need."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: "This is a historic day, made possible by tremendous courage shown by President Obama. Because of the president's courage, kids coming home from college will have access to their parents' healthcare. Because of his courage, seniors will have help accessing affordable prescription drugs. Because of his courage, people with pre-existing and chronic conditions will not be denied access to health insurance. That's what political courage is.

The President had the courage to bend the needle of history and did something presidents have tried to do for 60 years."

REPUBLICANS

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: "Today's decision makes one thing clear: Congress must act to repeal this misguided law. Obamacare has not only limited choices and increased health care costs for American families, it has made it harder for American businesses to hire. Today's decision does nothing to diminish the fact that Obamacare's mandates, tax hikes, and Medicare cuts should be repealed and replaced with common sense reforms that lower costs and that the American people actually want. It is my hope that with new leadership in the White House and Senate, we can enact these step-by-step solutions and prevent further damage from this terrible law."

House Speaker John Boehner: "The president's health care law is hurting our economy by driving up health costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire. Today's ruling underscores the urgency of repealing this harmful law in its entirety. What Americans want is a common-sense, step-by-step approach to health care reform that will protect Americans' access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost. Republicans stand ready to work with a president who will listen to the people and will not repeat the mistakes that gave our country ObamaCare."

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus: "Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president.

"Under President Obama's signature legislation, health care costs continue to skyrocket, and up to 20 million Americans could lose their employer-based coverage. A panel of unelected bureaucrats now has the unprecedented authority to come between elderly patients and their doctors. Meanwhile, the rules and regulations placed on job creators and small businesses make it nearly impossible to hire new workers at a time when Americans desperately need jobs.

"We need market-based solutions that give patients more choice, not less. The answer to rising health care costs is not, and will never be, Big Government."
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli: "This is a dark day for the American people, the Constitution, and the rule of law. This is a dark day for American liberty.

"This decision goes against the very principle that America has a federal government of limited powers; a principle that the Founding Fathers clearly wrote into the Constitution, the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was meant to restrict the power of government precisely for the purpose of protecting your liberty and mine from the overreaching hand of the federal government.

Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: "Today's Supreme Court decision is unfortunate. ObamaCare is a debacle and an unwarranted intrusion of the federal government into the marketplace. Republicans in Congress should continue to try to repeal ObamaCare in its entirety and replace it with market-based health care policies that will improve quality and bring down costs."

Senate Candidate George Allen of Virginia: "While disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision on President Obama's health care law, I believe it reinforces what is truly at stake during this pivotal election. This November the American people have an opportunity to choose new leadership in Washington who will listen to their voices and repeal this costly, harmful government health care law."

U.S. Senate Candidate David Dewhurst of Texas: "Today's decision by the Supreme Court to uphold Obamacare as constitutional is reason number one why we need a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to repeal this monstrous law. As I have said from the start of my campaign, my top priority on Day One in Washington will be to file legislation to repeal every word of Obamacare and throw the law in the trash can. Whether the individual mandate is characterized by the court as a mandate, or a tax, it is most certainly a disaster for America."

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell: "Today's Supreme Court ruling is extremely disappointing for Virginia and for America. The PPACA will create a costly and cumbersome system that will impair our country's ability to recover from these challenging economic times, infringes on our citizen's liberties, will harm small businesses, and will impose dramatic unfunded mandates on Virginia and all states. Simply put, this is a blow to freedom. America needs market-based solutions that give patients more choice, not less."
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio: "While the Court has deemed the law constitutional as a tax on the American people, it is still flawed policy that is unaffordable for our families, our small businesses, and our government. The President's one-size-fits-all health care spending law is the centerpiece of a failed agenda that has increased economic uncertainty, stalled job creation, and deepened the spending hole that Washington."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: “I’ve been clear from the very beginning that I do not believe a one-size-fits-all health care program works for the entire country and that each governor should have the ability to make decisions about what works best for their state. Today’s Supreme Court decision is disappointing and I still believe this is the wrong approach for the people of New Jersey who should be able to make their own judgments about health care. Most importantly, the Supreme Court is confirming what we knew all along about this law – it is a tax on middle class Americans.”

Louisiana Gov: Bobby Jindal: “Ironically, the Supreme Court has decided to be far more honest about Obamacare than Obama was. They rightly have called it a tax. Today’s decision is a blow to our freedoms. The Court should have protected our constitutional freedoms, but remember, it was the President that forced this law on us."

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum: "Today's outcome is the worst of all scenarios. Not only are our rights being taken away and Americans are being forced to do something we don't want to do, but now we are being burdened with the biggest permanent tax increase in our nation's history. This is a sad day."

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky: “Just because a couple people on the Supreme Court declare something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so. The whole thing remains unconstitutional. While the court may have erroneously come to the conclusion that the law is allowable, it certainly does nothing to make this mandate or government takeover of our health care right.”

Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri: "This decision does not change the fact that ObamaCare will lead to higher health care premiums, increased federal spending, and greater uncertainty for small business owners nationwide. That's why Congress must repeal this deeply flawed law in its entirety and replace it with thoughtful, common-sense reforms that put patients and doctors in control of health care – not Washington bureaucrats."

Former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann: "This is a turning point in American history. We will never be the same again with this denial of liberty interests. But also it is a black cloud pragmatically speaking on economic recovery. There will be no hope of economic recovery between now and the election. We have exhausted now our legal solutions to be able to rid the nation of Obamacare. Now we have to look for a political solution."

Former presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry: “This ruling will be a stomach punch to the American economy. It is a shocking disappointment to freedom-loving Americans desperate to get our country back on track. Obamacare is bad for the economy, bad for health care, bad for freedom. Americans have made clear their overwhelming opposition to its convoluted, burdensome and overreaching mandates.

Freedom was frontally attacked by passage of this monstrosity – and the Court utterly failed in its duty to uphold the Constitutional limits placed on Washington. Now that the Supreme Court has abandoned us, we citizens must take action at every level of government and demand real reform, done with respect for our Constitution and our liberty.”

soundoff(112 Responses)

Well, a victory perhaps for those who will get it for free, not so much for those that will pay for it for them.

June 28, 2012 11:36 am at 11:36 am |

Dou

KUDO for the President Oboma leading this Country to the right direction.

June 28, 2012 11:37 am at 11:37 am |

beevee

Today my respect for chief justice Roberts grew to 10 (on a scale 0-10 ten being the highest). Even with reservations in his opinion, he rose above party lines (he is appointed by the republican president) in issues that matter to every american irrespective of their party affiliation. Everyone of us should heave a sigh of relief and move forward and not listen to the cribbings of politicians. Justice Roberts for president 2016. He has my vote.

June 28, 2012 11:37 am at 11:37 am |

Don

This is fantastic news. Although I have a job and I'm covered, I can't imagine how scared I would be if I were to lose my job. We need this. This is the change Obama was talking about. We have to take these steps. Nothing is perfect for everyone.

June 28, 2012 11:37 am at 11:37 am |

Suzie

I was a registered Democrat for all my life and just changed to Independent because of trash like this. So, now people who can ill afford to pay for healthcare will pay a tax to the government that they can't afford to pay. This makes sense how? And now a small business is being forced to get health insurance for their employess even though they can not afford the additional cost. I can't wait to see the job losses because of this law as the small businesses let employees go in order to keep themselves afloat.

June 28, 2012 11:38 am at 11:38 am |

wolfpackbob

Nancy Pelosi still has not read the 2,400-page law.

June 28, 2012 11:39 am at 11:39 am |

Walt M

It's only a tax if you are stupid enough not to buy health insurance. It's the same basic tax that those of us who have had insurance for years have been paying for those who have paid nothing. Get over it. It's constitutional.

This a victory for Americans and a major step forward towards a more rational and cost-effective system of health care for all. The fact that this law emphasizes prevention will help us all avoid dramatically escalating health care costs, and keep people healthy instead of flooding emergency rooms and doctors' office with patients whose problems could have been prevented or treated early. The law will reward effective health care providers with incentives for health care which actually prevents disease. Hmmm, better health for more people and lower costs–sounds good to me!

June 28, 2012 11:43 am at 11:43 am |

.. Kentucky long-rifleman ........

..
Well folks, let us thank WILLARD MITTHOUSE ROMNEY...his blueprints for the PRESIDENT'S HEALTHCARE PROGRAM helped us to this day.
..
... So thanks WILLARD MITTHOUSE ROMNEY.............and now, YOU CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP !!
..

June 28, 2012 11:44 am at 11:44 am |

C

The majority of these Republican/Politicians are the ones who are Millionaires and can afford just about anything in life. They need to come join the real world and not think that they live it on a daily basis. Obama 2012!!! Not all laws are going to conform to all people however the majority are not Millionaires. We are the lower to middle class and Obama is our voice.

June 28, 2012 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

robloon

unfortunatly for all you that want this law to stay in effect what you do not realize is thta now this sets in motion for congress to tell you want you HAVE to by and from what company you havet o by it from. and allows that company to charge what ever it wants. and for you that wnt socialized medicine, look at the military medical field of waitingfor hours in an office to see a nurse not a doctor for wht troubles you, and then on your return visit not seeing the same nurse. after 24 years in the miilitary ill tell you that you have no idea what you just brought on yourself and the you will not like it one bit.

Actually, Rand Paul, I think if the Supreme Court decides something is constitutional, it is. That is why we now are at the mercy of Super Pact spending and I have not heard anyone in the GOP say that is not constitutional. Situational ethics us interesting.

June 28, 2012 11:48 am at 11:48 am |

vince

Rand Paul – Just because the Supreme Court (established by the constitution) deems something to be constitutional (the function of the Supreme Court), does not mean that it is constitutional. What? Can anybody say sore loser? Confused, contradictory sore loser at that.

June 28, 2012 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

scott

Why does the supreme court only work for Republicans when they make decisions they like?

Actually "aces full" before obamacare u WERE paying for those that got health care for free. Conservatives need to know how to read just because something is long shouldn't discourage u otherwise how did u get through the bible. This law forces those who don't have health insurance to get it and pay right now those uninsured costs r added to ur premiums so essential as I said u were paying for those that got it for free

June 28, 2012 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

Ray E. (Georgia)

Let's see how un employment goes. If it goes to 6.5 to 7 Percent maybe people can rejoice. If not there is an election in November.

June 28, 2012 11:50 am at 11:50 am |

HPNIII

Hey Sarah, show a little respect for your President. Your statement is indeed like the pot calling the kettle black.....remember the death panel lies you went all over the county spreading.

June 28, 2012 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

Ed

Finally, the youth of America will NEED to contribute to the welfare of their fellow citizens. Since the repeal of the draft there has been nothing that requires our young citizens to maintain the American way of life that used to be the norm. Now, we have wars that last 10-15-20 years because nobody needs to ration or suffer and our children do not have to realize and learn first hand the horror that should be avoided at all costs. Freedom isn't free and it's a good thing to support the needs and dreams of our fellow Americans. The elders always did their part when they were youthful, and it is fair now to ask the youth of today to pitch in for the good of society. Make no mistake, healthcare is good for society.

Even with the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold this landmark legislation, our country has much yet to do to reach parody with other industrialized nations' single payer healthcare coverage for their people. The privatized insurance lobby remains a powerful force in the United States, one whose primary interest is profit, not a healthy American people.

June 28, 2012 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

Brian Dodge

"Republicans stand ready to work with a president who will listen to the people and will not repeat the mistakes that gave our country ObamaCare."
Between 2001 and 2007, when Republicans controlled Congress under Bush, health care costs rose 78% ; health insurance companies profits rose 428%; and all that money "trickled down" to the lowest job growth since WWII. That's what the Republicans stand ready to do again.

June 28, 2012 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

Brice

Republicans should not complain, 5 conservatives and 4 liberals but Roberts upheld laws.. End of discussion, Obamacare won!

June 28, 2012 11:54 am at 11:54 am |

Abram

The Democratic have complete control of the People and the US Constitution should declare itself dead.